The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China detains lawyer in Zhejiang amid ongoing cross demolition program
Radio Free Asia, August 26, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/lawyer-08262015111356.html

包龙军涉“煽颠”律师会见被拒 包蒙蒙已开学户口本被没收 (Bao Longjun suspected of “subversion” and is denied meeting with lawyer, son’s Hukou certificate confiscated and he is prevented from leaving country to study abroad)
Radio Free Asia, August 26, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-08262015120846.html

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

[CHRB] What Happened to the Detained Lawyers: 18 Held in Secret & Several Accused of “Endangering National Security” (8/12-20/2015)
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 12-20, 2015
http://chrdnet.com/2015/08/chrb-what-happened-to-the-detained-lawyers-18-held-in-secret-several-accused-of-endangering-national-security-812-202015/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Great Firewall reinforced for WWII anniversary parade
China Digital Times, August 26, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/great-firewall-reinforced-ahead-of-ww2-anniversary-parade/

Related:
China won't tolerate anything but praise for its showy World War II parade
Global Voices, August 27, 2015
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/08/27/china-wont-tolerate-anything-but-praise-for-its-showy-world-war-ii-parade/

国际记者联合会批评中国继续控制媒体 (The International Federation of Journalists criticizes China's continued control of the media)
Voice of America, August 26, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-chinese-authorities-continue-attempts-20150826/2932759.html

Financial journalist detained as China ramps up censorship and cracks down on “market rumors”
Hong Kong Free Press, August 26, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/26/financial-journalist-detained-as-china-cracks-down-on-market-rumours/

Related:
中国财经记者被指散布“虚假信息”遭传唤 (Chinese financial journalist accused of spreading “false information” summonsed by police)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 26, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150826_china_finance_journalist

Chinese people want to know “How was China’s economy destroyed?”
Quartz, August 27, 2015
http://qz.com/488191/chinese-people-want-to-know-how-was-chinas-economy-destroyed/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

River crabbed: Tianjin blast victims seek brave lawyers
China Digital Times, August 26, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/river-crabbed-tianjin-blast-victims-seek-brave-lawyers/

广东省茂名村民抗议强征土地八人被拘留 (Villagers protest land-grabs in Maoming city, Guangdong province, 8 people detained)
Radio Free Asia, August 26, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-08262015105058.html

Ten are detained in Tibetan protest march in Nangchen
Radio Free Asia, August 26, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/march-08262015152430.html

Chinese Tiananmen Square dissident says seeking asylum in Taiwan
Reuters, August 26, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/us-taiwan-china-asylum-idUSKCN0QV12Y20150826

Related:
Taiwan turns down asylum request by 1989 Chinese democracy activist
Radio Free Asia, August 26, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/taiwan-turns-down-asylum-request-by-1989-chinese-democracy-activist-08262015111923.html

China's migrant workers head home as Beijing faces an economic storm
The Guardian, August 27, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/27/china-small-time-recyclers-down-on-their-luck-amid-stock-market-turmoil

Human rights groups face global crackdown “not seen in a generation”
The Guardian, August 26, 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/aug/26/ngos-face-restrictions-laws-human-rights-generation

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China detains 12 over Tianjin blasts, accuses officials of dereliction
Reuters, August 26, 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/27/us-china-blast-idUSKCN0QW02U20150827

Related:
天津港爆炸有关责任人被采取刑事强制措施--新华 (Xinhua: Those responsible for Tianjin explosion will be subjected to criminal compulsory measures)
Reuters, August 27, 2015
http://cn.reuters.com/article/2015/08/27/tianjin-idCNKCS0QW03T20150827

Chinese work safety regulator Yang Dongliang is sacked
安监总局局长杨栋梁涉“严重违纪”被免职
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 26, 2015
EN: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34059948
CH: http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150826_china_sacking

The story of China's left-behind children
The Telegraph, August 26, 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11824563/The-story-of-Chinas-left-behind-children.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China shuts down 300 websites for online extortion and paid post deletions
China Daily, August 26, 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-08/27/content_21720084.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

Trio of Occupy Central student leaders arrive at Hong Kong police HQ facing unlawful assembly charges
South China Morning Post, August 27, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1852958/trio-occupy-central-student-leaders-arrive-hong-kong-police

Hong Kong Christian groups feel new scrutiny from mainland
New York Times, August 27, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/27/world/asia/hong-kong-christian-groups-feel-new-scrutiny-from-mainland.html

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China probes another top rights lawyer for “subversion”
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-probes-another-top-rights-lawyer-for-subversion-08252015110314.html

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

China considers landmark law to protect victims of domestic violence including restraining orders
South China Morning Post, August 25, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1852512/mainland-china-may-pass-first-law-protecting-victims

China: legal ordeals for brothers of a journalist
The New York Times, August 25, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/world/asia/china-legal-ordeals-for-brothers-of-a-journalist.html

Echoes of Mao as China’s Xi prepares to pardon prisoners
The Wall Street Journal, August 25, 2015
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/08/25/echoes-of-mao-as-chinas-xi-prepares-to-pardon-prisoners/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese authorities force Tibetan literary website offline
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/chinese-authorities-force-tibetan-literary-website-offline-08252015152643.html

Minitrue: delete articles on stock market slide
China Digital Times, August 25, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/minitrue-delete-articles-stock-market-slide/

Related:
China’s party-run media is silent on market mayhem
The New York Times, August 25, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/world/asia/chinese-news-media-largely-silent-amid-stock-market-turmoil.html

Black Monday and Tumble Tuesday: How China reacted
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 25, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34048486

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

A statement concerning the detention of lawyer Wang Yu by the parents of the Jiangxi sexual abuse of young girls’ case
江西幼女性侵案当事家长关于王宇律师的声明
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
EN: http://www.chrlawyers.hk/en/content/statement-concerning-detention-lawyer-wang-yu-parents-jiangxi-sexual-abuse-young-girls%E2%80%99-case
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/JYXW-08242015114343.html

China on high alert, detains critics, protesters ahead of war parade
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/alert-08252015110153.html

Hong Kong groups urge release of China’s detained lawyers in postcard campaign
Hong Kong Free Press, August 26, 2015
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/08/26/hong-kong-groups-urge-release-of-chinas-detained-lawyers-in-postcard-campaign/

Related:
香港多团体游行寄明信片呼吁释放被捕律师 (Hong Kong groups hold “Mail Postcards to Urge Release of Detained Lawyers” protest march)
Radio Free Asia, August 25, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl1-08252015113016.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

中国五家国有房企将回购天津爆炸事故受损房屋 (China’s 5 state-owned enterprises to repurchase homes damaged in Tianjin explosion)
Reuters, August 26, 2015
http://cn.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/china-blast-property-idCNKCS0QV05F20150826

Air quality rule changes put heat on local authorities
South China Morning Post, August 26, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1852516/air-quality-rule-changes-put-heat-local-authorities

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

VPN down: China goes after Astrill, other anti-censorship apps in run up to WW2 anniversary parade
South China Morning Post, August 26, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/tech/apps-gaming/article/1852658/vpn-down-china-goes-after-astrill-other-anti-censorship-apps-run

Hong Kong (香港)

Three Hong Kong protesters jailed using metal barrier to charge doors of Legco building
South China Morning Post, August 25, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1852563/hong-kong-protesters-handed-jail-time-using-metal-barrier

HKU sets September deadline for decision on appointment of controversial academic
South China Morning Post, August 26, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1852576/hku-sets-september-deadline-decision-appointment

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

China mulls banning “terrorist” clothing
UCA News, August 25, 2015
http://www.ucanews.com/news/china-mulls-banning-terrorist-clothing/74146

China vows to continue grip on Tibet
The Age, August 25, 2015
http://www.theage.com.au/world/china-vows-to-continue-grip-on-tibet-20150826-gj857m.html

Related:
习近平:治藏方略着眼反分裂和稳藏 (Xi Jinping: Tibet strategy aimed at anti-separatism and stability)
Voice of America, August 26, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/xi-jinping-tibet-20150825/2932637.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Political risks may foil economic reform in China
The New York Times, August 25, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/business/economy/chinese-economy-faces-risks-from-political-instability.html

天津大爆炸突显中国增长失控 (Tianjin explosion highlights China’s out-of-control growth)
The New York Times, August 26, 2015
http://cn.nytimes.com/op-ed/20150826/c26iht-edshu/

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中国维权律师大抓捕:已有九人被指控危害国家安全 (Crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers: nine are accused of endangering state security )
Canyu, August 25, 2015
http://canyu.org/n101805c6.aspx

律师不准会见基督徒戈平 同案三人羁押地点仍不明 (Lawyers not permitted to meet Christian Ge Ping, detention location of all three in same case still unknown)
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-08242015115137.html

Human rights lawyer prevented from flying out of Beijing
中国维权律师被禁止出国
The New York Times, August 24, 2015
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20150825/c25sino-lawyer/dual/

律师就大抓捕再申请信息公开 会见当事人仍阻碍重重 (Lawyer Yu Wensheng again submits Open Government Information request about mass crackdown, Lawyer-client meetings are still obstructed)
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-08242015113819.html

Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

Mainland China finally considering reclassifying sex with underage prostitutes as rape after pressure from activists
South China Morning Post, August 24, 2015
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1852295/mainland-china-may-reclassify-sex-underage-prostitutes

Related:
China's first draft law on domestic violence reviewed
China Daily, August 25, 2015
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-08/25/content_21693576.htm

全国人大常委会今召开16次会 反家暴法初亮相 (16th NPC Standing Committee meeting held today, will review China's first draft law on domestic violence)
Xinhua, August 24, 2015
http://www.nmg.xinhuanet.com/xwzx/jrjj/2015-08/24/c_1116351949.htm

中国为纪念抗战胜利将特赦刑事罪犯 (China to commemorate war victory by giving amnesty to criminal offenders)
British Broadcasting Corporation, August 24, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150824_china_amnesty_criminals

Related:
"人大常委会会议审议关于特赦部分服刑罪犯的决定草案
NPC SC deliberates draft decision to grant amnesty for a portion of prisoners currently serving sentences
Xinhua (Accessible at Ifeng.com), August 25, 2015
http://news.ifeng.com/a/20150825/44513731_0.shtml

特赦!时隔四十年,全国人大常委会再次启动!
Amnesty! NPC Standing Committee Reactivates it after 40 hiatus!
China Youth Online, August 25, 2015
http://news.cyol.com/content/2015-08/24/content_11570611.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Minitrue: don’t rain on our military parade
China Digital Times, August 24, 2015
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2015/08/beijing-shuts-commemoration-parade-rehearsal/

What caused “Black Monday”? The answer’s blocked in China.
Foreign Policy, August 24, 2015
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/24/china-black-monday-stock-markets-global-censorship-media/

Related:
China censoring Black Monday on country’s biggest search engine, Baidu, stopping citizens looking for information about financial chaos
The Independent, August 24, 2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-censoring-black-monday-on-countrys-biggest-search-engine-baidu-stopping-citizens-looking-for-information-about-financial-chaos-10469850.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

广州两民主人士被押两年多从未放风 (Two Guangzhou democracy activists—Guo Feixiong and Liu Yuandong— not allowed outside in over 2 years of detention)
Voice of America, August 24, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-hk-mistreament-of-rights-20150824/2930063.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China's Black Monday comes amid much deeper economic pessimism: analysts
Radio Free Asia, August 24, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/economy-08242015105234.html

In nature’s name
NewsChina Magazine, August, 2015
http://www.newschinamag.com/magazine/in-natures-name#id:2324#date:17:12

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Celebrating an anti-Fascist victory or a Fascist victory?
China Change, August 24, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/24/celebrating-an-anti-fascist-victory-or-a-fascist-victory/

China must be pressed to end torture by police
Washington Post, August 24, 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/china-must-be-pressed-to-end-torture-by-police/2015/08/21/faace9de-0fb7-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html

Monday, August 24, 2015

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Activist Guo Feixiong held 743 days without yard time
China Change, August 21, 2015
http://chinachange.org/2015/08/21/activist-guo-feixiong-held-743-days-without-yard-time/

中国打压维权律师人数升至276 (Number of lawyers affected in China’s crackdown reaches 276)
Voice of America, August 24, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-lawyer-20150821/2927493.html

Related:
Mass suppression of lawyers reveals true nature of Xi’s “rule by law”
对维权律师的大规模镇压揭示了习近平“依法治国”的真实面目
Human Rights in China, July 16, 2015
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

全国人大法律委员会关于《中华人民共和国刑法修正案(九)(草案)》审议结果报告 (NPC Law Committee report on the public consultation results of draft China Criminal Law Amendment (9) )
Legal Daily, August 24, 2015
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2015-08/24/content_6235917.htm